learning to read - Boston Moms Blog

My 5-year old was buckled in his seat, quietly flipping through books while waiting for our flight to take off. It was that tricky time period after the cabin door was closed, but before his tablet was allowed. His new beginning-reader Paw Patrol books were spread in his lap, and he was engrossed in one about the firefighting pup, Marshall. He slowly formed an “F” sound and put it together with the rest of the letters.

In true early reader style, he exuberantly shouted his new word once the letters on the page clicked in his brain. His new word — FIRE. On an airplane. Just before takeoff, when everyone was quietly doing their own thing. More than a few heads turned his way. My husband quickly responded to our son and the other passengers’ looks with reassurance that yes, that was the word, but no, there was no real fire. He made it obvious that this was just an excited new reader. And thankfully, everyone moved on.

Like my son, I love to read. And I’m thoroughly enjoying this “kid learning to read” stage of parenting. He’s sounding out words, puzzling through signs, and excitedly figuring out this new world of letters that magically make words. His new skill inspired me to guide him beyond picture books.

Together, we recently completed our first read-aloud chapter book — Beverly Cleary’s “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” — and have started our second, Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.” I read, he listens. I chose these books because I remember enjoying them as a kid — and because I found copies with pencil-sketch drawings every few pages. My son eagerly anticipates the nightly ritual of refreshing our memories as to where we last left Ralph and then turning to the next chapter. He knows I’m a sucker for “just one more chapter,” pushing past his bedtime. One night, he was so excited for more of Ralph, he begged his dad (who, of course, agreed) to read the next chapter when I was working late and returned home past his bedtime. Much to my delight, he had to catch me up the next night before we could continue together. 

If you’re also entering this “learning to read” stage of enjoying chapter books together, I have two tips to share.

Choose chapter books with a few pictures.

Our first attempt at a chapter book was unsuccessful when I tried reading him a text-only digital copy of “Mr. Popper’s Penguins.” He was uninterested. Maybe he wasn’t ready. Who knows. In retrospect, this was an uninspiring introduction to chapter books that failed. I vowed to make our next attempt more exciting.

Follow your child’s lead.

In true book-lover form, my son has added two books to his “to be read” list — the other tales about Ralph (“Runaway Ralph” and “Ralph S. Mouse”). He discovered their existence on the back of our copy of the first Ralph tale. Until we make it to the library to pick them up, we’re reading Willy Wonka. We’re only a couple of chapters in, but it doesn’t seem to be grabbing my son’s interest in the same way “The Mouse and the Motorcycle” did. I’m guessing once we have the Ralph books in hand, we’ll temporarily shelve Willy Wonka and hop back into Ralph’s adventures.

Who knows what will be next. I have a huge list of favorites I’m eager to introduce him to. But we’ll see what inspires him. And what literary adventures he takes me on.

 

Teresa Kett
Teresa has lived in the Boston area for nearly 15 years, but remains surprised each winter when that first really cold day takes her breath away. She's most likely to be found snuggled in a blanket with at least some of these things -- books, a newspaper, a tea latte, a glass of wine, her kids and her New England-native husband who can't be convinced to move south. She lives in the Boston suburbs and dreams of a someday when she can spend the winter with her toes in the Florida sand she grew up with. Until then, she's enjoying raising kids who will tell anyone who asks, "We cheer for the Bruins, the Red Sox, the Patriots and the Florida Gators." As a former journalist who changed careers when she moved north for graduate school, Teresa is excited to return to regular writing as a Boston Moms Blog contributor.